Body buffer

ABSTRACT

The Body Buffer is a back and body scrubber that holds liquid soap/lotion/oil in the length of the handle, as well as, within the head of the tool, and dispenses the liquid through five rubber valves in the head of the tool; further, the head of the tool attaches to changeable heads including:
     1. Mesh head-Terry/cotton covered sponge with a poofie mesh side.   2. Loofah head-Terry/cotton covered sponge pad with a loofah side.   3. Brush head-Plastic/nylon scrubber brush.   4. Terry/cotton covered sponge pad in the shape of geometric oval, animals, fish, and insects.   

     This invention reduces the need to frequently place soap within, or on, the head of the tool. The advantage of holding a quantity of liquid within the handle and the head, together with changeable head system, makes this invention an advantageous improvement over previous back brushes

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

On Feb. 26, 2007, I filed a provisional patent application for the Body Buffer. My provisional patent application number is 60/903,308. I also filed a second provisional patent application for the Dual Chambered Body Buffer on Feb. 27, 2007, the application number is 60/903,549.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A back scrubber is a bathing tool used for the purpose of personal hygiene; specifically, for washing the body and back. The back scrubber has typically been comprised of a wooden or plastic handle, ranging from approximately 12″-20″ in length, with a sponge, mesh, or brush head, of plastic or natural composition, fixed to one end.

To wash with the tool, one had to apply soap to the body, using a hand, or, another cloth, or, to place the soap directly onto the head of the scrubber with each use. The process was awkward and cumbersome.

A later improvement on the idea of the long handled tool, not only enabled the user to place an application of lotion within the head of the back massager tool and dispense the lotion through the plastic, roller-type applicator/massager head; but also, afforded the utility of a changeable head; whereby, the user could unscrew one head and replace it with another head of the same nature described herein, and this head could be filled with a small quantity of soap gel or another lotion.

The problem with this idea is two fold: Firstly, the applicator head holds a limited quantity of lotion or soap gel, thus causing the user to frequently replace quantities of soap/lotion/oil into the head, and secondly, the changeable heads have a limited application, specifically, they are not well suited for the purpose of washing and scrubbing, as they merely provide a roller-type applicator/massager.

There have been numerous renditions of the back scrubber, ranging from the long-handled, fixed-headed brush previously mentioned, to a motorized back scrubber with rotating heads. However, previous back scrubbers have not enabled the user to store and dispense a substantial quantity of liquid soap gel within the tool; as well as, afford the user the convenience and utility of interchangeable/replaceable heads, which meet a variety of personal hygiene needs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Body Buffer improves the utility and convenience of the old fashioned back scrubber. Indeed, it has a long plastic handle to facilitate reaching one's back. However, the Body Buffer is unique because it holds liquid soap/lotion/oil within the length of the handle and dispenses liquid through valves in the head of the tool; further, the head of the tool attaches to a variety of changeable/replaceable heads, including brush, loofah, sponge, and mesh poof, in effort to meet the specific bathing needs of youth through adult.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Side view of the angled liquid dispenser tool measuring 13½″ from tip of handle to head.

FIG. 1-1 Side view of the liquid dispenser head.

FIG. 1-2 Push button rubber filler valve is shown on the top of the handle.

FIG. 1-3 Side view of the 1½″ diameter liquid chamber in the handle of the tool.

FIG. 2 Underside view of the angled liquid dispenser tool.

FIG. 2-4 Pressure point for the locking head.

FIG. 2-5 Rubber liquid dispenser valve.

FIG. 2-6 Rim over which the locking heads glide.

FIG. 3. Top view of the liquid dispenser tool.

FIG. 4 Side view of the angled dispenser.

FIG. 5 Top view of changeable brush head. Shows the holes through which liquid flows, as well as, the spring lock where the brush is attached/detached.

FIG. 6 Top view of mesh poof on cloth covered sponge head. Shows the holes through which liquid flows, as well as, the spring lock where the brush is attached/detached.

FIG. 7 Top view of loofah on cloth covered sponge pad head. Shows the holes through which liquid flows, as well as, the spring lock where the brush is attached/detached.

FIG. 8 Top view of the changeable head.

FIG. 8-7 Plastic ridge under which the rim of the dispenser tool slides and is secured.

FIG. 8-8 Holes depict where the liquid flows from dispenser through the head.

FIG. 8-9 Sponge pad to which plastic ridge attachment is adhered.

FIG. 8-10 Spring tension which holds the head in place.

FIG. 9 Bottom view of the changeable mesh-poof covered sponge head. Holes depict where liquid flows through from dispenser through sponge head

FIG. 10 Bottom view of the loofah sponge head on terry cloth back sponge. Holes depict where the liquid flows through from the dispenser tool through the sponge head.

FIG. 11 Bottom view of the cloth covered sponge for youth.

FIG. 11-11 Holes depict where the liquid flows from the dispenser tool through the sponge head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Body Buffer improves the utility and convenience of the old fashioned back scrubber. The Body Buffer is an improvement because it holds liquid soap/lotion/oil in the length of the handle, as well as, within the head of the tool, and dispenses the liquid through five rubber valves in the head of the tool; further, the head of the tool attaches to changeable heads. As described below, the changeable heads meet a variety of bathing needs from youth through the adult.

The Liquid Dispenser Tool

The plastic liquid dispenser measures 13½″ from tip of head to tip of handle. It is curved at an angle of approximately 160 degrees for comfort reach. The handle of the tool is a 1½″ in diameter chamber which holds approximately 5 ounces of liquid and dispenses the liquid soap or lotion through rubber valves in the head. The rubber valves are operated by a rubber pressure button on the handle. The rubber button can be opened and closed to fill the liquid dispenser handle with liquid soap/lotion/oil.

The Changeable Heads

This bathing tool is unique and improves over older bath brushes, not only because of the ability to hold and dispense approximately 5 ounces of liquid soap, lotion, or oil, but also because the liquid handle dispenser system is combined with a changeable head system. The changeable heads, each meeting specific bathing needs, would have a plastic spring locking mechanism fixed to the top of each head type, which facilitates the secure attachment of the changeable head to the handle of the tool.

The head of the tool slides under a rim on the sponge head. A 1 mm ridge of plastic at the tip of the head of the tool pushes on a spring type piece of plastic in the changeable head and a spring latch at the base of the changeable head hooks up onto a rim on the head of the tool and secures the head in place. To remove the head, the spring lever is depressed and the tool slides out from the changeable head.

The changeable heads measure 6½″ long by 5″ wide.

The replaceable heads are changeable to meet specific bathing needs.

The following is a listing of removable/changeable head types:

1. Terry/cotton covered sponge with a poofie mesh. 2. Terry/cotton covered sponge pad with a loofah side. 3. Plastic/nylon scrubber brush. 4. Terry/cotton covered sponge pad in the shape of oval, animals, fish, and insects. 

1. The Body Buffer is a back and body scrubber tool which receives liquid soap gel, lotion, or oil through a rubber, push-button filler valve, located on the handle of the tool and holds a quantity of liquid soap gel, lotion, or oil in the angled 13½″ length of the handle and head of the tool and dispenses liquid through five rubber valves in the head of the tool when the rubber push button filler valve is depressed.
 2. The head of said tool detailed in claim 1, attaches and secures by spring tension plastic grip, to a changeable mesh head: terry/cotton covered sponge with a poof-type mesh side head; having holes in the terry/cotton covered sponge and the flat plastic base secured on the cotton covered sponge, that mate with the tool described in claim 1 herein.
 3. The head of said tool detailed in claim 1, attaches and secures by spring tension plastic grip, to a changeable loofah head: terry/cotton covered sponge pad with a loofah side head; having holes in the terry/cotton covered sponge and loofah, and the flat plastic base secured on the sponge and loofah, that mate with the tool described in claim 1 herein.
 4. The head of said tool detailed in claim 1, attaches and secures by spring tension plastic grip, to a changeable brush head: plastic/nylon material scrubber brush head; having holes in the flat plastic base, in which the bristles are secured, that mate with the tool described in claim 1 herein.
 5. The head of said tool detailed in claim 1, attaches and secures by spring tension plastic grip, to a changeable terry/cotton covered sponge pad head: terry/cotton covered sponge head; shaped as animal, fish, insect, or geometric oval, having holes in the terry/cotton covered sponge and the flat plastic base secured on the sponge, that mate with the tool described in claim 1 herein.
 6. The 1″ end portion of the handle of tool detailed in claim 1, has a centered, ¾″ hole; to facilitate hanging storage of the tool. 